Sermon- The Believer’s Role In the Kingdom
Scripture: Luke 12:28-34 “28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. 32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Introduction: Since the Bible teachings believers to seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live in right standing with God, our neighbor and ourselves, we can sense the importance of the kingdom of God in the life of a believer. What is “The Believer’s Role In the Kingdom.” How can believers experience the abundant life kingdom living has in store? Apostle Paul explains the kingdom by saying in Ro 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Paul shifts the church at Roman from thinking of a natural kingdom filled with eating and drinking to a spiritual kingdom of God ruling our lives, leading us to righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The moment the believer accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; they are declared in right standing with God. The believer has been made the righteousness of God with no condemnation at all. 2Co 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Ro 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Not only has believers been made righteous, they have the peace of God. Ro 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
The Believer’s Role In the Kingdom of God is to embrace their position in the family of God. They are no longer aliens and stranger, they are a part of God’s own family. The enmity between God and man has been removed, they are accepted in the Beloved, Jesus Christ. They also have the peace of God.
Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The peace of God keeps our hearts and mind free of worry and anxiety. The believer has the assurance that all things are working together for the good of them that love God. More than righteous and peace, believers have the joy of the Lord in their hearts. Believers are not guarantee a trouble-free life or a life of ease, but they have the assurance of God’s word, the promise of answered prayer in every situation and a heart full of joy! The prophet Isaiah said, “therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation”. We can rejoice because we are kingdom dwellers, living under the rule of God, our righteous king. Our God is in control. He is watching over our lives. God provides for the believer. Our role is to seek the kingdom of God and live righteous lives!
What is The Believer’s Role In the Kingdom? Mt 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” It is the believer’s role and responsibility to seek unceasingly the kingdom of God in all its manifestations, hungering and thirsting for God’s presence and power both in his/her life and in the midst of the Christian community.
What is The Believer’s Role In the Kingdom? In Matthew 11:12, Jesus gives additional insight on the nature of kingdom people. Jesus indicates that the kingdom of heaven is taken hold of only by forceful people who committed to breaking away from sinful and immoral practices of the human race and who turn to Christ, His Word, and his righteous ways. No matter what the cost to themselves may be, believers must vigorously seek the kingdom in all its power. Experiencing the kingdom in all its blessings requires earnest endeavor and constant exertion. It is the good fight of faith, accompanied by a strong will to resist Satan, sin and this perverse world. The believer’s role is to seek the Kingdom of God continually, and then fight for their freedom from self, sin and Satan. Remember, “the violent take it by force.” Old habits don’t just die, they must be put to death! Satan won’t just leave; he must be driven out! Christ has given us the victory, but we still must go out to battle. We must put on the whole armor and wage war for the righteousness of God. That the way it is and has always been. In 1721, Isaac Watts wrote,
“Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own His cause, Or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease, While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace, To help me on to God?”
After asking a series of question, He gives his answer, says:
“Sure I must fight if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord; I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy Word.
Thy saints in all this glorious war Shall conquer, though they die; They see the triumph from afar, By faith’s discerning eye.
When that illustrious day shall rise, And all Thy armies shine; In robes of victory through the skies, The glory shall be Thine.”
What is The Believer’s Role In the Kingdom? The believer’s role in the Kingdom is to seek the Kingdom of God continually, and then fight for their freedom from self, sin, and Satan. Christ has provided liberty for every believer, But remember, Jesus said, “the violent take it by force.” Old habits don’t just die, they must be put to death! Old desires don’t fade away, we must crucify our flesh. Satan won’t just leave; he must be driven out! Every blessing of God has given in Christ Jesus must be claimed by taking hold of them by faith. Christ has given us the victory, but we still must go out to battle. We must put on the whole armor and wage war! We must drive back the forces of darkness and let God’s light shine in.
One final thing, the kingdom of God is not for those who seldom pray, compromise with the world, neglect the word of God, and have little spiritual hunger. It is for men like Joseph (Genesis 39:9) who lived different and pursue his dream despite what others said or did. It is for men like Nathan who was willing to confront King David about his sin, (2Sam 12:7) For people like Elijah who stood alone on Mt. Carmel against all the prophets of Baal. People like Daniel and the 3 Hebrew boys who refused the meat from the king’s table and refused to bow down to the gods of Babylon. Time prevents me from mentioning Mordecai, Esther, Peter, James and John, or Mary or Anna or Lydia, all kingdom dweller who spent their lives seeking the kingdom of God, living for kingdom righteousness and fighting to maintain the righteousness of God in a world gone mad.
Luke 12:32-34 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
In Luke Jesus described His believers, the church as a little flock. Our Savior often represents himself as a shepherd, and his followers as a flock or as sheep. In Judea it was common to see shepherds tending their flock. The shepherd was with them, defended them, provided for them, led them to green pastures and beside still waters. In all these things Jesus was and is our Good Shepherd. Jesus’s flock then was small. Few really followed him, compared with the multitude that were against Him. Some professed to love him but were ashamed to own Him. Others wanted to follow Him, but only on their own terms.
Even today, the number of His true followers may be small, yet they must be dominated by fear. God is their Friend and will provide for them. It was and is His purpose to give them the kingdom, so they have nothing to fear. Our God reigns! Believers are kingdom dwellers who should spent their lives seeking the kingdom, living for the kingdom, fighting to maintain our righteous position and fighting for the righteousness of God in a world gone mad. In the end, we win because we are laying up treasure in heaven. The best way to spend your life as a kingdom dweller is seek God and His righteousness above all else. The true way to live free of worry is to invest your wealth in things with eternal value. Consecrate your substances to good purposes. Jesus moves the conversation from having all things added to our lives to how best to live with all things. We should lay up treasure in heaven because our aim should be to be prepared to enter there. In heaven, all our wants will be forever provided for. Purses, here, grow old and useless. In this world, our wealth may take wings and fly away. Our riches may be easily scattered, or we must soon leave them behind; but our wealth laid up in heaven abides forever. It never is corrupted; never flies away; never is to be left behind. Every kingdom dweller will be provided for in this life and the next. As kingdom people, let’s spend our lives seeking the kingdom of God, living for kingdom righteousness and fighting to maintain the righteousness of God in a world gone mad. If we do, God will give you everything you need in this life and the next! Amen.
